North Carolina Caregiver Resources
AARP Supports North Carolina’s Caregivers
One out of six North Carolinians cares for a family member or friend age 60 or older. As the state continues to grow, providing resources to North Carolina caregivers is a top priority for AARP North Carolina. Here are some helpful resources to help you enhance caregiving for your loved one.
Your Guide to Caregiving
North Carolina has recognized the importance of family caregiving for many years, but prior to 2000 there were no national caregiving support programs. In 2000, Congress reauthorized the Older Americans Act and passed the Family Caregiver Support Act. In the spirit of this act, AARP North Carolina has partnered with several agencies to provide resources such as the "Family Caregiving in North Carolina" guide. This guide gives families and friends a comprehensive look at the support programs and resources available to them in North Carolina, including:
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) - An employee benefit for working caregivers
Health Insurance - Brief descriptions of Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance
Support Groups - Alzheimer’s support groups, Parkinson’s support groups, etc.
Home and Community Care Options - In-home aide services, transportation, etc.
Tax Benefits - Tax Credits, AARP Tax-Aide, estate planning, etc.
Respite: For when caregivers need a break
Local resources in your area
Download your copy of "Family Caregiving in North Carolina" online in PDF format: (This will take several minutes to download.)
Are You a Long Distance Caregiver?
There are many valuable resources available to ease the burden of providing long-distance care. Please see the following links:
·http://www.benefitscheckup.org
·http://www.aarp.org/money/lowincomehelp/quicklink
· Eldercare Locator: http://www.eldercare.govor 1-800-677-1116
· Family Caregiver Alliance: http://www.caregiver.org
· National Family Caregivers Association: http://www.nfcacares.org
· Administration on Aging: http://www.aoa.gov
· National Institute on Aging: http://www.nia.nih.gov
· Faith in Action: www.fiavolunteers.org
Caregiver Education
Powerful Tools for Caregivers Program
AARP North Carolina‘s six week course provides family caregivers with tools to improve their self-care and increase their caregiving ability and confidence. To sign up for a Powerful Tools for Caregivers course in your area, visit www.dhhs.state.nc.us/aging , click on “Area Agencies on Aging”, click your region on the map and locate the “Family Caregiving Specialist.” Or contact AARP North Carolina at: ncaarp@aarp.org or 1-866-389-5650 toll-free.
Caring For Those You Care About Notebook/CD
AARP offers a collection of 46 tip sheets to help caregivers. For more information visit www.aarp.org/learntech/family_care/. To receive a FREE copy of this notebook or a CD version, contact the AARP North Carolina office at ncaarp@aarp.org or 1-866-389-5650 toll-free.
Guide to Long-Term Care
Nearly everyone wants to live independently as long as they can, and planning ahead increases the number of available choices. Recognizing that it may become increasingly difficult to continue the care of a loved one at home, AARP provides resources to help caregivers make long-term care decisions. To access AARP’s guide to long-term care, visit:
www.aarp.org/health/longtermcare/
Other Resources
For additional resources to support your efforts in keeping your older family members living at home in a secure and loving environment for as long as possible, visit the Full Circle of Care website at www.fullcirclecare.org/.
The Working Caregiver
Prepare to Care
Prepare to Care: A Planning Guide for Families is available to help you and other family members discuss and create a caregiving plan for yourself, an aging parent or other relative, or a close friend or neighbor. Access this planning guide online or request a hard copy from AARP North Carolina at ncaarp@aarp.org or 1-866-389-5650 toll-free.
We suggest you also visit www.aarp.org/family/caregiving/ for other valuable insights on preparing for caregiving.
Other Resources
Other working caregiver resources available from the AARP North Carolina office include:
· Helping Employees Balance Work & Caregiving
· When Employees Become Caregivers
· Family Conversations That Help Parents Stay Independent
· NC Caregivers in the Workplace survey: http://www.aarp.org/research and enter “North Carolina” in the search window
Caring For Your Parents (Book)
Caring for Your Parents: The Complete AARP Guide lays out proven methods for helping your aging parents live their lives to the fullest. If you are one of the 30 million Americans engaged in providing care to an older parent, relative, or friend, Caring for Your Parents is for you—and for your family. You’ll find more information on this book at www.aarpmagazine.org/books/books_caring.html.
Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Many local and national resources are available to help you and your family cope with a loved one’s Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. For more information, please visit:
- Duke Aging Center Family Support Program: www.dukefamilysupport.org
- Eastern NC Alzheimer’s Association: www.alznc.org
- Western NC Alzheimer’s Association: www.alz-nc.org
- At the Crossroads: A Guide to Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia & Driving: www.thehartford.com/alzheimers
- Steps to Success: Decisions About Help at Home for Alzheimer’s Caregivers: ncaarp@aarp.org or 1-866-389-5650toll-free
State/National Organizations
The following services and organizations all provide support and resources for caregivers:
North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services: http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/aging/
Eldercare Locator: www.eldercare.gov
National Alliance for Caregiving: www.caregiving.org
National Family Caregivers Association: www.nfcacares.org
Administration on Aging: www.aoa.gov
Share Experiences
To learn from others and to share your caregiving experiences through AARP’s valuable caregivers message board, visit www.aarp.org/families/boards/ and click on “Caregivers Circle.”
Additional Resources
Driver Safety and Education
Does your loved one still want to drive? Is it still safe for them to do so? The following links offer information on driver safety classes, answer questions related to mature driver needs, offer vehicle modification recommendations to help make your car a better fit for you and teach you how to have the difficult conversation when it is time for a loved one to stop driving.
AARP Driver Safety Program - classroom education or online: www.aarp.org/drive or 1-888-227-7669 toll-free
Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialists – For help in retraining a driver who may be recovering from an infirmity, visit www.driver-ed.org, scroll down and click on “CDRS Directory,” then enter ‘North Carolina.’
CarFit – An educational program designed to help mature drivers and their personal vehicles fit better for maximum safety: www.asaging.org/carfit
“We Need to Talk”- A 60-minute seminar on having family conversations about driving :http://www.thehartford.com/talkwitholderdrivers or 1-866-389-0885toll-free
Grandparents and Relatives Raising Children
Are you faced with being the parent for your grandchild, niece, nephew, or cousin? Visit http://www.aarp.org/families/grandparents/ for informational brochures, newsletters, guides, and videos to help you raise a relative’s child.
Promoting Health and Well-being
Today’s older adults are living longer. It is therefore essential that these additional years be quality years. There is good news! You can take steps to promote a healthy aging lifestyle. For more information, visit these websites:
http://www.aarp.org/health/staying_healthy/
http://www.aarp.org/health/fitness/
http://www.aarp.org/health/brain/